Postales de Leningrado

This postcard seems to have got a bit lost. It came from the right place, but it’s like it doesn’t know its destination. Let alone which way it should set out. Shame, because I would like to read the book, if there is one. It has obvious potential. In fact I would also like to see it made for the silver screen. Even with the same cast, but made by a different director. Ideally somebody who doesn’t try to hide absolute lack of concept and confusion behind a catchy visual curtain. Why tell the viewer that Teo does three things every day to prove that he is not afraid, when this isn’t developed on and then the character doesn’t even behave accordingly. The same applies to the flustered old woman and to every character that appears in this. It unlocks a lot of potential, but nothing comes from it. It doesn’t manage to find the right wave of quirky poetry. The only saving grace is that the visual side really is smart and so occasionally a scene like a department store robbery using rats from your lethargy. But all in all, that isn’t enough. This isn’t going to be a “guerilla" Venezuelan Amélie after all. (08.07.2008)